HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BULLIED?

I have. The bullying started in the first grade of elementary school, on the first school day. It was initially confusing, then disgusting. ?? Name-calling, being chased on the way home from school, sometimes even physical violence. I told the teacher, and when the bullies found out, the situation only got worse. ??

The bullying continued throughout my school years, including middle school and high school. During middle school, the bullying turned violent. There was hitting, kicking, shoving, and everything imaginable. Once, I was pinned to the ground by four or five bullies, and my hair was cut with a pocket knife. I had long hair at the time, but after the incident, I went to a barber and tearfully asked them to cut it short. The constant threat of violence loomed even during leisure time, especially on weekends. Everywhere I went, I had to be on guard so as not to be caught off guard. ??

I survived my school years outwardly well. At 19, I moved to a larger city to study, and the bullying stopped abruptly. Since then, I have not experienced bullying in any form. ??

Only recently have I understood how serious my bullying was. I didn't realize it then; I thought it somehow came with the territory, and everyone else had similar experiences. Maybe they did, I don't know. But it was serious. Both of my shoulders are damaged from constant beatings. Likewise, my hips, which easily become inflamed and painful because they were kicked almost daily during middle school.

Understanding the seriousness of the bullying, I have pondered how I managed to cope. How did I endure coming to school every day, studying, pursuing hobbies, being with friends (fortunately, I had some), being interested in girls, and everything else that comes with a young person's life?

Only during this year have I realized what kept me together and gave me strength. It was music. ?? And even more than music. It was the opportunity to express myself. To release anger, hatred, sorrow, pain, and all negative emotions somewhere. To channel emotions into music. To express myself through music. ??

After the first grade, I didn't tell anyone about the bullying. I kept everything to myself. But I expressed everything through music. It was my channel to release stress and sometimes heartbreak. Music was my strength. ??

Music chose me early on. I was three years old when I could sing all ABBA songs by heart. Later, I became a music professional and a piano teacher. I wanted to teach other children to express themselves, their emotions, and creativity through music. I wanted to make children strong. I hoped they wouldn't have to bully others and that they would be better prepared if they were ever bullied themselves. I witnessed wonderful stories of growth as many shy or sensitive children became vibrant and self-confident young adults. ??

I have only recently understood all of this. I have also realized that bullying is still an everyday occurrence in schools. 8-9% of children experience bullying weekly, even daily. In addition, contemporary forms of bullying are even more brutal than violence. Verbal bullying, isolation, creating false images and videos in social media and messaging apps, and other cruelties are a sad part of the daily lives of many children and young people. Despite the advances in digital communication tools, many young people experience deep loneliness and a sense of not belonging. They become marginalized, perhaps even radicalized. The costs of bullying are terrible on a human level. But they also have a tremendous financial value. According to a study in Australia, it's 2.3 billion dollars per grade level. And this is just in Australian schools! ????

I couldn't control whether I was bullied or not. But I had a means to survive bullying. I had a tool that allowed me to express my feelings in a safe way without hurting anyone. Drumheads occasionally broke during band rehearsals, and piano keys took a hit, but no other damage was necessary. Music was a friend that offered a safe shoulder and was always ready to listen. ????

Imagine if all children had a friend like that. I only realize now that my motivation and passion to build the Feel and Play app stems from this. I want Feel & Play to be a friend for children, helping and listening, supporting and guiding. Providing an opportunity to express themselves, their emotions, and creativity in a safe way, in a safe environment. Offering a platform where all emotions are allowed, even the unpleasant ones. Because if feelings like sadness, loneliness, anger, or fear cannot be expressed to anyone, they accumulate and cause significant problems later in life. It might even be that one cannot overcome them without therapy or other professional help. ??

Feel & Play also provides an opportunity for adults to build a more emotional connection with children. Talking about feelings together is important, but expressing them together is even more crucial. Many negative emotions, such as anger or frustration, unfold in a new way when expressed through storytelling, playing music, or painting. And most importantly, when emotions can be expressed freely and safely, they don't build up. ?????

If anything good came out of my bullying, it's this. I know my mission in the world. I dedicate my life to anti-bullying work and preventing the harms of bullying. I dedicate my work to providing today's children with even a slightly safer place to express themselves and manage their emotions. That place is Feel & Play. ??

Thank you for reading to the end! ??

#FeelAndPlay #AntiBullying #ExpressYourself